Frost Dates for 71901 — Hot Springs, Arkansas

Half of springs at Hot Springs 1 NNE, AR see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by March 1, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 13 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 239 days in a typical year, longer than at 85% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 265 days one year in ten and falls short of 213 one year in ten. On average 59 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 14 days longer, to about April 2, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 70%.

July is the warmest month at Hot Springs 1 NNE, AR, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 87% of years and April still brings one in 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,504 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,133) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,011. Precipitation totals 57.9 inches a year, most in May (6.5") and least in August (3.6"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Blakely Mountain Dam, AR, 11 miles northwest of Hot Springs and 200 feet lower, has a last frost 15 days later (April 3), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 4), a season 23 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Hot Springs 1 NNE, AR, 1.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71901 is 2 miles from Hot Springs 1 NNE, AR, which stands at 626 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 71913 (Hot Springs). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71901 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.